In less than two weeks, our nation will again observe Veterans Day, honoring the brave men and women who have defended our nation through too many wars.

Nov. 11, 1918, was the signing of the Armistice officially ending World War I.

Rochester's annual observance will again be held at Pastor Phil Shaw's New Life Worship Center, 6301 34th Ave. N.W. The Soldiers Field Veteran's Memorial Committee headed by Wayne Stillman plans the entire program.

Veterans are encouraged to be there for a complimentary breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The breakfast is given by the Canadian Honker's owners, brothers Joe and Chris Powers, who say they can't do enough for veterans. This is their sixth year offering the free breakfast.

Original Armistice Day

The original Armistice day happened in a French railroad car in the Compiegne Forest at 5 a.m. French leader Ferdinand Foch signed the Armistice for the Allies, and Germany's Secretary of State Matthias Erzberger signed for the Axis Powers -- Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Ottoman Empire. Foch ordered that all fighting stop at 11 a.m. that day, Nov. 11, 1918. Today many communities honor the historic time of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Local event

At 11 a.m. this year, our Veteran's Day observance will include entertainment, color/honor guards and the ceremonial ringing of the bell signifying the day and time World War I ended. Speakers include the president of the Minnesota Patriot Guard Riders and Iraq War veteran Zach Gore, commander of VFW Post 1215 in Rochester.

Pastor Shaw has offered the New Life Worship Center for this annual event since 1996, the same year that the committee started the veterans memorial at Soldiers Field. To get to the church, take the 65th Street overpass on U.S. 52 North. The church has ample seating and sound and video system. Golf cart drivers will take people from their cars to the church entrance. It will be an honor to emcee the program.

Every person will receive a gift courtesy of the Ray Sibley estate, American Legion Post 92 and Elks Lodge 1091.

The start of the war

The first World War began June 28, 1914, and lasted nearly 41/2 years, until the armistice was signed on that rainy morning in France. The United States officially entered the war April 6, 1917, as declared by President Wilson four days earlier to the U.S. Congress. It was a bloody war for all countries involved. The United States lost 116,616 service men and women, over 204,000 wounded and 4,500 prisoners or missing in action.

When the U.S. entered the war, America was singing "How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down on the Farm" and "Over There." At the end there was dancing in the streets. Headlines in the New York Times read "Armistice Signed End of the War. Berlin Seized by Revolutionists. Ousted Kaiser flees to Holland." That was 91 years ago.

Next week: Olmsted County Fair celebrates 150th in 2010.

Harley Flathers is a longtime Rochester-area broadcaster and historian. Got a comment for Harley? Send it to news@postbulletin.com or to Harley at Post-Bulletin, P.O. Box 6118, Rochester, MN 55903.

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